We’ve been talking about screen time over the last few weeks. We began by looking at the research on how screen time impacts the cognitive and language development of young kids. Then, keeping this information in mind, we discussed realistic screen time guidelines for kids.
Amid all the research and recommendations regarding kids’ screen time, some experts warn that we should be less concerned about our kids’ screen time and more concerned about our own. Here’s why.
The effects of parental screen use on kids
Effects on social, cognitive, and emotional development
Young children need back-and-forth interactions with adults in order to develop optimally. Children pay a price when these interactions are constantly interrupted by parents stopping to check screens (reading text messages, focusing on TV shows, checking-in on social media, etc.). For example, researchers have found that two-year-olds who experience a lot of “technoference” when interacting with their parents know half the number of words that two-year-olds who don’t experience this “technoference” know. Likewise, infants whose moms have greater habitual use of cell phones are more negative, express more distress, and are less likely to explore their environments than infants whose moms have less habitual use of cell phones.
Effects on safety
Distractions are inevitable when caring for kids. However, the distraction created by smartphones is unique because smartphones are portable, allowing parents to focus on them at any time and during nearly any activity. One researcher, using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (a program of the Consumer Product Safety Commission), identified a 10% increase in childhood accidents between 2005 and 2012. The researcher argues that smartphones have a causal impact on child injuries. He came to this conclusion after considering the natural experiment created by AT&T’s introduction of smartphone service. AT&T rolled out smartphone service at different times in different places. Area by area, as smartphone adoption rose, childhood ER visits increased.
Effects on kids’ perception of their value
Researchers have found that parents use screens frequently, even during times that are typically reserved for face-to-face communication with family. In one observational study, researchers covertly observed 55 parents and their young children as they ate at fast-food restaurants. They saw 40 of the 55 parents use mobile devices during their meals. The more time these parents spent on the mobile devices, the more likely their children were to act out, trying to get their parents’ attention. This often elicited angry reactions from the parents, including yelling and even kicking a child’s foot. Young kids aren’t the only ones who feel the need to get their parents attention away from screens. In a study of older children, 32% reported feeling “unimportant” when their parents use their cellphones during meals, conversations, or other family times. In another study, children reported feeling “sad, mad, angry, and lonely” when their parents used screens. Some of the children even reported damaging or hiding their parents’ cellphones in order to stem their parents use of the devices!
What should parents do about their screen use?
Before I say anything else, let me be clear that I have a smartphone and a computer. I use both of these regularly, so I’m not pointing a finger at anyone else. I’m sharing information that is just as relevant to me as to any other parent.
I don’t believe that screens are inherently good or bad. It depends on how we use them. There’s no harm in answering an urgent text message, making a quick call, or submitting an online order. However, once we’ve done this, we need to focus our time and energy on our kids. Even though I believe it is good for kids to have time when they play independently, this doesn’t mean they should be completely without supervision. Additionally, these opportunities for independence shouldn’t come during meals or during other times when we have opportunities for conversation as a whole family. With all of this in mind, I’m adhering to the following guidelines for my use of screens:
- Avoid using devices around my kids unless I truly need to.
- When I do need to use a device, explain to my kids why I’m using it (for example, explain that I’m checking the weather or putting books on hold at the library). This helps them understand the numerous ways that devices can be useful and lets them know that I’m not trying to avoid them.
- Silence my phone so I avoid checking it reflexively during activities where my kids need close supervision (for example, while playing at the playground).
- Have times of the day, including mealtimes, during which no one in the family uses screens.
For additional information on the effects of parental screen time, check out my sources:
- Screen Sense: Setting the Record Straight
- Smartphones and Child Injuries
- Maternal Mobile Device Use is Related to Infant Social-Emotional Functioning
- For The Children’s Sake, Put Down That Smartphone
- Turn Off That Smartphone, Mom and Dad!
- The Dangers of Distracted Parenting
I’d love to hear about your experience! Do you feel like your use of screens impacts your kids? If so, how? What guidelines do you set for your screen time?
Shared at the following:
Encouraging Hearts and Home, Over the Moon, and Busy Monday.
Wow, the research about childhood ER visits and smartphones is interesting-and sobering! In the past several months, I’ve really been trying to limit any kind of screen use during the day. I try not to use my phone when my kids are around, but like you mention about telling kids how we’re using technology, I’ll tell my oldest “I’m texting so-and-so back” so he knows that I’m not just staring at a screen for no reason. He’s also started asking me if I’m “looking up a recipe” whenever he sees my computer, since that’s the main reason I’ll use it during the daytime! (though I’ve been trying to not do that, even-I’m trying to limit my computer use to before the kids are awake, while I do dishes in the evening as my husband spends time with them, after they are in bed, and during naptime). I think it’s been really good for us!
Yeah, the injury research is interesting. When I first saw it, I thought to myself that “correlation does not equal causation.” This is true, of course, but when I look at the details of his study I can see pretty compelling evidence that smartphones are responsible.
My oldest always asks if I’m checking the weather. Apparently that’s what I do most often!
Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared.
Thank you, Marilyn!